The essential journalist news source
Back
18.
December
2017.
Fenwick Primary School Official Opening

FOR IMMEDIATE USE: 11 December 2017

The key to success, Fenwick Primary extension is unlocked

 

There was Christmas cheer and a song or two in the air as Alan Brown MP unveiled a plaque to celebrate the official opening of East Ayrshire's latest educational improvement, a brand new extension at Fenwick Primary School.

 

Sporting Christmas Jumpers for Christmas Jumper day, Pupils from Primary 5 and Primary 7 performed two very special songs, Can't Stop Dancin', and The Brave 16, written by them in conjunction with two visiting musicians, Alan Penman and Ewan McVicar, to the delight of the assembled audience which included East Ayrshire Leader, Councillor Douglas Reid and Tony Ward of Fleming Buildings Ltd, the contractor responsible for building the £950k addition.

 

Head Teacher, Keira Finlayson welcomed guests and showed them round the newly revamped building. Councillor Reid said: "Going from the front part of the building to the new part at the rear, is like walking through history, with the original sturdy sandstone 2 room school, built over 140 years ago, still very much in use today. Later additions have been added through time, but with 137 pupils and a busy staff, the new facilities were clearly needed and are obviously very much welcomed by all.

 

"For the pupils, a new gym/assembly hall, two classrooms, toilets and a resurfaced playground have had a great impact, while staff are clearly benefiting from the new reception area, office, staff room, kitchen and store. Over the past few years we've either upgraded or rebuilt the majority of our schools in East Ayrshire, to give our pupils, and all the staff who care for them, the best possible environment for successful learning. It's great to see (and hear!) this in action in Fenwick."

 

Alan Brown MP, who runs an annual Christmas Card competition in Primary Schools throughout his constituency also took the chance to present this year's award to Fenwick pupil Lucy Daly whose entry had been picked from all the schools involved. He said: "I was delighted to return to Fenwick, an area I represented as a councillor. I observed that I was Spokesperson for Strategic Planning and Resources when the council allocated the initial funding for the school extension. It was therefore a real honour to see the benefits of that allocation."

 

"On a previous trip to the school, some pupils were excited and proud to give me a guided tour and that is testament to the success of the project."

 

Senior pupils Lexie Baillie, Lennon McBeth, Megan Brown and Kara Stewart helped Alan Brown unveil the plaque. Lexie and Kara presented Head Teacher, Keira Finlayson with a festive bouquet, and Lennon and Megan presented Alan Brown with a pen and ink picture of Fenwick's iconic church as a memento of the occasion.

 

 

Ends

Editor's note:

 

  • Fenwick Primary started as a simple two-room building over 140 years ago and has grown in several stages since.

  • This £950k extension makes it fit for the next 140 years. It includes new:

    • 2 classrooms

    • toilets

    • staff room

    • office

    • reception

    • gym/assembly hall

    • store

    • kitchen

    • plant room

    • playground surface

    • fencing

    • wall

  • Fleming Buildings come from Lenzie

    • Their achievements include churches, community centres, schools and hospitals throughout Scotland

    • They pride themselves on taking on and training apprentices

  • Entertainment included two songs written and performed by pupils -

    • Can't Stop Dancin' (P5) written by pupils with help from musician, Alan Penman

    • The Brave 16 (P7) written by pupils with help from musician, Ewan McVicar